Bolt eyelet with bolt-engaging shoulder for electrical transmission lines

Abstract

The invention deals with a novel bolt eyelet design for use on high voltage transmission lines used by utilities. The eyelet incorporates a shoulder in the base that automatically centers the installed bolt when the latter is tightened.

I claim: 
     
       1. A bolt eyelet in combination with a bolt having a stem, a head and a longitudinal axis comprising: a U-shaped loop having an axis and loop ends;   a horseshoe shaped base disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to a central plane of said loop and integrally formed with said loop, said base having U-shaped aperture for receiving said stem of said bolt, said aperture having a semicircular end and being elongated in a transverse direction normal to the central plane of said loop, the length of said aperture being greater than a cross section of said bolt head, the loop ends being attached to said base at opposite ends of a diameter of the semicircular and of said aperture in the same plane as the central plane of the loop and wherein   said base includes a shoulder, said shoulder and said loop being disposed on the same side of said base, said shoulder being positioned above and spanning across an end of said aperture located away from said ends of said loop to provide space for the entry of said bolt prior to a securing of said bolt to said eyelet;   whereby upon the placing of said bolt into position in the eyelet, the bolt head will be in the same plane as the shoulder and during a normal tightening of the bolt, the head will contact the shoulder to automatically align the bolt axis with the central plane of the loop and the loop axis and thereby facilitate the tightening and positioning of the bolt.   
     
     
       2. The bolt eyelet in accordance with claim 1 wherein the shoulder is shaped to conform with the shape of the bolt head to react therewith. 
     
     
       3. The bolt eyelet in accordance with claim 1 wherein the shoulder is shaped to react with a square headed bolt.